Fondant Filled Chocolates Food

FONDANT FILLED CHOCOLATES

Steps:

• Place about half of your chocolate into a small pan over a very low heat (or bain marie if you prefer) and heat the chocolate until it reaches a temperature of 48ºC - Don't worry if not all of the chocolate has melted, it will continue to melt after it's removed from the heat.
• Decant the melted chocolate into a bowl and add a piece of the unmelted chocolate you set aside before. Stir the chocolate in until it has melted.
• Keep adding pieces of the unmelted chocolate until the temperature of the chocolate has been reduced to 32ºC. At this point it's ready to use.
• Remove any lumps of chocolate and set aside to use later - I like to put in onto greaseproof paper as then it's easy to peel off and use again (it can be difficult to remove hardened chocolate from a bowl).
• Pour the melted chocolate into the mould (or pipe if you prefer). Fill each of the squares you're using to the top. Once filled, tip the mould upside down over the bowl you stirred the chocolate in and tip out any excess - you're trying to create a hollow shell.
• Once the excess has tipped out have a quick check for any holes in the shells. If there are any holes then add in a little extra chocolate and tip again to remove any excess.
• Once you're happy with the shells, use a sharp knife to scrape any excess chocolate from the top of the mould.
• Put the mould into the fridge for at least half an hour to set.
• Scrape any leftover chocolate from the bowl back into the pan you used to melt the chocolate originally (this can then be used to make the base of the chocolates).
• Place the marshmallows (4 large marshmallows) and water (1 tsp) into a microwave dish and microwave on full power for 30 seconds to melt the marshmallows. After 30 seconds give them a stir, if there are any unmelted lumps microwave for a further 10 seconds.
• Sift in 50g of the icing sugar and mix with a spoon to combine. You'll find that you cannot combine all of the sugar by mixing. Once you've reached this stage then knead the fondant by hand to combine the remaining sugar (don't try and knead by hand before mixing, as it will be too sticky to handle).
• Spread the remaining icing sugar (25g) onto your work surface (the fondant will become sticky as you work with it. If it does, roll it in the icing sugar).
• Add about 5 drops of flavour to the fondant and knead to ensure it is evenly spread.
• Add a small amount of food colouring (if using) and knead until evenly spread.
• Fill the shells
• Remove your mould from the fridge.
• Gently push a small ball of fondant into each shell. It's very important that you check that none of the fondant is protruding above the top of the mould, as if it does it'll stick out of the bottom of the chocolate!
• Put to one side while you temper the chocolate for the base.
• Add about half of any unused chocolate you have in the packet to the chocolate you put back into the pan earlier and repeat steps 1-4 (above) to temper the chocolate. You can use the same bowl you used earlier even if it has some hardened chocolate in the bottom as it will melt in and help the tempering process.
• Once the chocolate has tempered, spoon or pipe it carefully over the top of the fondant - you want the chocolate to come above the top edge of the mould.
• Once all of the chocolates are covered, use a sharp knife to scrape off any excess chocolate.
• Put the chocolates into the fridge for at least half an hour to set.
• Once the chocolate has completely set, turn the mould over on a work surface. If you're using the silicon mould then carefully push each chocolate out of the mould. If any are being stubborn then pop the mould back into the fridge for a while longer to give them a bit more time to set.

FONDANT-FILLED CANDIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine milk and corn syrup. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar (mixture will be stiff). Divide into two portions. , For peppermint patties, add the peppermint oil to one portion. Shape 1/2 teaspoonfuls into balls and flatten. In a microwave, melt 1 pound of candy coating, stir until smooth. With a slotted spoon, dip peppermint disks in coating; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper to harden. Refrigerate in an airtight container., For chocolate-covered cherries, drain cherries, reserving 3 tablespoons of juice; set cherries aside. Combine juice with remaining fondant. Add additional confectioners' sugar if necessary to form a stiff mixture. , Roll into 1-in. balls; flatten to 2-in. circles. Wrap each circle around a cherry and carefully shape into a ball. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Cover loosely. Melt remaining candy coating; dip cherries in coating; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper to harden. Refrigerate in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks for candy to ripen and center to soften.

FONDANT AU CHOCOLAT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 2 ramekins and set aside.
• Combine chocolate chips and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir and microwave at 15-second intervals until almost melted. Remove from the microwave and stir until chocolate is completely melted and thoroughly combined. Set aside.
• Combine sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and salt in a separate bowl. Pour into chocolate mixture and whisk until combined. Add flour, stirring until combined. Divide batter evenly between both ramekins.
• Bake in the preheated oven until set, 12 to 14 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate.

CHOCOLATE FONDANT

Steps:

• First get your moulds ready. Using upward strokes, heavily brush melted butter (use 50g in total) all over the inside of the pudding mould. Place the mould in the fridge or freezer. Brush more melted butter over the chilled butter, then add a good spoonful of cocoa powder into the mould. Tip the mould so the powder completely coats the butter. Tap any excess cocoa back into the jar, then repeat with the next mould.
• Place a bowl over a pan of barely simmering water, then slowly melt 200g good-quality dark chocolate and 200g butter, both chopped into small pieces, together. Remove the bowl from the heat and stir until smooth. Leave to cool for about 10 mins.
• In a separate bowl whisk 4 eggs and 4 egg yolks together with 200g golden caster sugar until thick and pale and the whisk leaves a trail; use an electric whisk if you want. Sift 200g plain flour into the eggs, then beat together.
• Pour the melted chocolate into the egg mixture in thirds, beating well between each addition, until all the chocolate is added and the mixture is completely combined to a loose cake batter.
• Tip the fondant batter into a jug, then evenly divide between the moulds. The fondants can now be frozen for up to a month and cooked from frozen. Chill for at least 20 mins or up to the night before. To bake from frozen, simply carry on as stated, adding 5 mins more to the cooking time.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Place the fondants on a baking tray, then cook for 10-12 mins until the tops have formed a crust and they are starting to come away from the sides of their moulds. Remove from the oven, then leave to sit for 1 min before turning out.
• Loosen the fondants by moving the tops very gently so they come away from the sides, easing them out of the moulds. Tip each fondant slightly onto your hand so you know it has come away, then tip back into the mould ready to plate up.
• Starting from the middle of each plate, squeeze a spiral of caramel sauce - do all the plates you need before you go on to the next stage.
• Sit a fondant in the middle of each plate. Using a large spoon dipped in hot water, scoop a 'quenelle' of ice cream.
• Carefully place the ice cream on top of the fondant, then serve immediately. Repeat with the rest of the fondants.

NEXT LEVEL CHOCOLATE FONDANT

Steps:

• Use 50g of the butter to brush the insides of the pudding basins. Put them on a baking tray and transfer to the fridge to chill until the butter sets. Brush over another layer of the butter, then dust generously with the cocoa. Return to the fridge to set. Mix the caramel sauce with a good pinch of sea salt flakes, then chill in the fridge until ready to use.
• Tip the remaining butter, the chocolate and coffee powder into a heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over a pan of gently simmering water, ensuring the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Stir the mixture until smooth, adding another small pinch of sea salt. Tip the whole eggs, egg yolks and sugar into another bowl and beat together using an electric whisk until very pale - the whisk should leave a trail in the mixture when lifted. Sift in the flour, then gently fold in the melted chocolate mixture.
• Spoon the fondant mixture into the prepared basins until just about halfway full, then transfer to the freezer on a baking tray for about 20-25 mins, or until the mixture is just set. Add 1 tsp of the salted caramel sauce to the middle of each fondant, then top up with the remaining fondant mixture. Return to the freezer until frozen. Can be prepared up to two weeks ahead.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the fondants on a baking tray and bake for 15 mins until the tops have formed a crust and they are starting to come away from the sides of the basins. Remove from the oven, then leave to rest for 1 min before turning out onto warm plates. Sprinkle with extra sea salt, then serve straightaway.

CHOCOLATE FONDANTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and put a baking tray on the middle shelf. Brush the inside of 5 dariole or pudding moulds with the melted butter, then put the cocoa in one and turn it to coat the inside, holding it over the second mould to catch any that escapes. Repeat with the other moulds.
• Put the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl, set over, but not touching, a pan of simmering water and stir occasionally until melted. allow to cool slightly.
• Using electric beaters, whisk together the whole eggs, yolks, sugar and a pinch of salt until pale and moussey (the mixture should almost double in volume), this will take 3-4 mins. Gently fold in the melted chocolate and butter, and then the flour, being careful not to knock out too much air. Spoon into the prepared moulds, stopping just shy of the top. Chill for at least 1 hr.
• Put on a hot baking tray and cook for 12-14 mins until the tops are set and coming away from the sides of the moulds. Stand for 30 secs, then serve in the moulds or turn out onto plates. Great with clotted cream or plain ice cream.